Assisted dying makes us think differently about care

Patrick Bolton; Ben P. White; Julian Huppert; Ann Dadich

doi:10.1111/hex.70723

Assisted dying makes us think differently about care

Patrick Bolton
, Ben P. White
, Julian Huppert
, Ann Dadich

School of Business

Prince of Wales Hospital
Queensland University of Technology
University of Cambridge

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Assisted dying (AD) is increasingly available as a legal end-of-life option in wealthy nations. Literature on AD considers its operation and the experience of clinicians, people receiving AD, and their loved ones. It is inward-looking. The nature of AD suggests it focuses less on the technical aspects of care and more on its humanity. Accordingly, AD offers lessons for healthcare more broadly—specifically, the importance of patient- and family-centred care, respect for patient wishes, and relational care. Lived Experience: JH is a family member of a person who received assisted dying. The vignettes are AD's lived experience.

Original language	English
Article number	e70723
Number of pages	3
Journal	Health Expectations
Volume	29
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70723
Publication status	Published - 16 Jul 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

assisted suicide
decision-making
euthanasia
family-centred care
health personnel attitudes
palliative care
patient autonomy
patient-centred care
professional–patient relations
terminal care

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10.1111/hex.70723Licence: CC BY

Full textFinal published version, 228 KBLicence: CC BY

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abstract = "Assisted dying (AD) is increasingly available as a legal end-of-life option in wealthy nations. Literature on AD considers its operation and the experience of clinicians, people receiving AD, and their loved ones. It is inward-looking. The nature of AD suggests it focuses less on the technical aspects of care and more on its humanity. Accordingly, AD offers lessons for healthcare more broadly{\textemdash}specifically, the importance of patient- and family-centred care, respect for patient wishes, and relational care. Lived Experience: JH is a family member of a person who received assisted dying. The vignettes are AD's lived experience.",

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AU - Bolton, Patrick

AU - White, Ben P.

AU - Huppert, Julian

AU - Dadich, Ann

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N2 - Assisted dying (AD) is increasingly available as a legal end-of-life option in wealthy nations. Literature on AD considers its operation and the experience of clinicians, people receiving AD, and their loved ones. It is inward-looking. The nature of AD suggests it focuses less on the technical aspects of care and more on its humanity. Accordingly, AD offers lessons for healthcare more broadly—specifically, the importance of patient- and family-centred care, respect for patient wishes, and relational care. Lived Experience: JH is a family member of a person who received assisted dying. The vignettes are AD's lived experience.

AB - Assisted dying (AD) is increasingly available as a legal end-of-life option in wealthy nations. Literature on AD considers its operation and the experience of clinicians, people receiving AD, and their loved ones. It is inward-looking. The nature of AD suggests it focuses less on the technical aspects of care and more on its humanity. Accordingly, AD offers lessons for healthcare more broadly—specifically, the importance of patient- and family-centred care, respect for patient wishes, and relational care. Lived Experience: JH is a family member of a person who received assisted dying. The vignettes are AD's lived experience.

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KW - decision-making

KW - euthanasia

KW - family-centred care

KW - health personnel attitudes

KW - palliative care

KW - patient autonomy

KW - patient-centred care

KW - professional–patient relations

KW - terminal care

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DO - 10.1111/hex.70723

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JO - Health Expectations

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ER -

Assisted dying makes us think differently about care

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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